Brussels, 24 April 2008: The ITUC today expressed its support for the candidacy of Juan Somavia to serve a further mandate as Director General of the International Labour Organisation.

“In his time at the head of the ILO, Director General Somavia has led it with energy and purpose and has made its decent work agenda a common objective of the international system as a whole. The current international financial and economic crisis threatens the well-being and interests of workers everywhere. It requires a determined and cohesive response from the multilateral system, with the ILO in the lead. Juan Somavia can contribute uniquely to making that happen, and to delivering on the goal of decent work”, said ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder.

First elected in 1998 and re-elected in 2004, Mr Somavia will complete his second mandate in March 2009. The election of the Director General, by the ILO Governing Body, will take place at its November 2008 session with votes being cast by its titular members – 28 governments, 14 trade unions and 14 employers. All the trade union representatives are affiliates of the ITUC.

The ITUC represents 168 million workers in 155 countries and territories and has 311 national affiliates.

For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on: +32 2 224 0204 or +32 476 621 018.